Calorimeter



W. G. LAIRD.

CALORIME T ER. 7 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24,1919.

Patented J 11116 14, 1921..

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

W. G. LAIRD.

CALORIMETER.

APPLICATION man JUNE 24, 1919.

Patented June 14, 1921.

2 SHEETSHSHE ET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT 7 OFFICE.

WILBUE G. LAIRD, OF NEW YORK. N. Y., ASSIGNGR T0 HENRY L. DOHERTY, OFNEW YORK, 1 T. Y.

CALOBIMETER.

Application filed June 2 1919.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVILBUR G. Lamp, acitizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the countyof New York, State of N w York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Calorimeters; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to calorimeters and more particularly tocaloriineters tor measuring the calorific values of combustible gases.

The usual method of measuring the calorific value of a gas consists inburning a measured quantity of gas, absorbing the heat of combustion ofthe gas in a measured quantity of water and measuring the rise intemperature of the water due to the heat absorption. Most of thedifferent kinds of gas calorimeters at present in use employ anabsorption chamber which consists of a combustion chamber and gas linessurrounded by a body oi water in which the heat generated by burning gasis absorbed. These absorption chambers, while satisfactory in manyrespects, have inherent defects of mechanical construction which produceerrors in making heat measurements and limit accurate measurements to anarrow range of conditions. For example, it is necessary to burn a largevolume of gas and heat a large quantity of water when making a heatdetermination in order to minimize the measurement errors. Further,since it is necessary to have a substantially complete heat absorption,the heat absorption chamber must have a large cooling surface andcontain a large volume of cooling water. In order to obtain a largecooling surface without making the size or the absorption chamberexcessive, the water chamber must be made in a number of small connectedcompartments, permitting inequalities in the rate of flow oi the waterin the different compartments and the formation of dead spaces where thewater is nearly stationary. An absorption chamber which will meet theseconditions must be constructed of a large body of metal that willnecessarily have a high thermal capacity. The high thermal capacity ofthe absorption chamber causes a substantial lag in the thermometerSpecification of Letters intent:

Patented June in, 15221.

Serial No. 305,392.

readings and a large volume of water in the absorption chamber meansthat a long period 01" time elapses between the time when the waterpasses the inlet thermometer and when the 'ame water passes the outletthermometer. With such a construction also substantial changes in thetemperature of the water enter-inothe absorption chamber and substantialchanges in the calorific power of the gas are not accurately and quicklyindicated in the calorific measurements. In

fact, most of the calorimeters in use are so operated that temperaturemeasurements of the same unit of water cannot be made at the inlet andoutlet of the absorption chamher during a single heat determination.

An object of the present invention is to provide an absorption chamberfor a gas calorimeter which is simple and inexpensive to construct,which is eiiicient and accurate in operation and Wiich will overcome theobjectionable features above referred to.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theimprovement in gas calorimeters hereinafter described and particularlydefined in the claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of.a gas calorimeter embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation and partly in section of the heatabsorption chamber on the line 2--2 of :Fig. 4;.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation partly in section of the heatabsorption chamber taken on line 3-3 of Fig. i, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the heat absorption chambertaken on the line The method used in the present invention fordetermining the calorific value of com bustihle gases is substantiallythe same as that illustrated and described in the patent to Henry L.Doherty, #826,366, granted August l lth, 1906. The basis of his methodconsists in burning gas with air in an absorption chamber whiledisplacing the gas being; burned volume for volume with water beingheated in the absorption chamber. lVith this constant relation betweenthe gas burned and the volume of water heated it is only necessary tomake a measurement of the difierent temperatures of the water at thewith the Calorimeter rated in the hziwiugm atei? to be otei'niinat lGLla DIQSSF 1* i sueces thioug'h l 1% Y t u 1 *n r q Z I 'l I (1 11%} ,L teilelnlvlnLuos null J (4.11m a tuh to i'uger'eud of oomiai'ti'nent 17 ofa neatahsoroei' 1S i l- C. 2. n V v i q 2-3 and t). in the WaterC(lillpi em 17 lie water is tarot-e11 i ting -elat1on to t 1e 1 e as tobe th teste eratiue to a greater t0 the "zilOi'lllO val sin heated-iiithe h m slisei the compartment 1'? tin etei' well 20 21ml flows thiet e1 ii. l o he 4 sisv l (Ellie; V rough a tube 236 to ids into a rounded ythe Wat heat ahsi'ishhei l8, hustiou of the it e lower p? ft of V o; the:hsorhei' l8 thi'o and passing" upwar lly 1 tion chamber, gi es 1p .tsweirdly flowing StlGtLil nets of combustion dep ui'ecl by means 01"thetmot etei" u which are mounted respectively monieter Wells 14 and 20.The heat abswher 18 upright 01 I' eytuitlei' 3S apart by a ring at thetop and at the bottom. ,L= eui'ecl to the eyhnl aucl i. so as to form aW: i tight chamber. shown in the drawings are cii'eula '(I'OSS section,but eyliutlel's haying o'hei' cross sections may he used. The termcylinders is used in the claims to include any closed suitace generatedby a straight line moving pai'allel to itself. A heat insulating jacketsi muscle the Water compartment 17 of the heat al'zsoi-ber, to form deedair spas secured to the upper enel of the ter commitment Wail 3d andassses tlllOUgll the "n V: GUJOXV '03 and j aelzet -6.

gases may escape is QFOVHlQfil at the too of th ertmeut. The vent coii-Qif'tTS 58 at the top of the outer) ll is water OIQPf-UEEIHOHlJ sud exetenzhu "though the insulating jacket 46. To the outer end of theeoupliiig 50 is eon- O by means of an 1 til i 0: the orozhifcts ofcoinought i to close Contact the Water chamber, a cysupported by mes 1*1 ips 68 with n the (y ()Vlilt: a narrow iassagz e-way T0 or ""scombustion Closed dothle T2 anal secure- 1 to the he e6 ar sumhorizontally in 0W the flame o Ml t is Walls 0 shape! 5 fuel gasproducts of eomhi'stioii to yet oii one side 1 11 1 1" indei to zinccausing the noun: a thin layer o the other side of the ci t 4-0, the q.ntities 0t gzs and liq" hi i thi'oug'h the heat iuteiehaup et 18 timeare kept as small as'possihle- 7 e to the large Contact surface theuasssee of heat item the gas to the liquid is almost iiistaiu'janeous.The length of the CYll11 Glforming the heat interehangei' 18 will b madesuch that the products of combustion are deprived oi all the heat gainedby combustion of the fuels having the highest calorilic value andhighest flame temperature and leave the heat interchanger 18 at the sametemperature at which they entered.

The flow or air through the heat interchanger is controlled by means ofa rotatable cap 82 mounted on the top of and surround ing the outlet forthe products of combustion. The cap 82 is provided With a series ofopenings 8-l which are arranged to register with similar openings 86 inthe top of the outlet By rotating the cap 82 the openings 8 1 and 86 maybe brought into a more or less complete alinement to vary the size oithe exhaust openings and thereby con trol the velocity of flow of theproducts of combustion through the passageway 70. To insure a steady andWell regulated supply of air to the combustion chamber above the burner28, a series of horizontal plates 88 are mounted on the burner 28 andare provided with perforations 90. The perforations 90 of the diilerentplates are out of alinement to prevent the air for combustion fromtraveling in a straight path through the combustion chamber.

The temperature of the products or com b stion is determined by athermometer 92, supported in the outlet 32 by the cap 82. The productsof combustion leaving the heat iuterchanger 18 should be at roomtemperature to insure that all of the heat formed by combustion of thefuel gas is absorbed in the cooling liquid. In some cases however theheat absorbing liquid is so much cooler than the atmosphere that theproducts of combustion are cooled below atmospheric temperatur Tocorrect this excessive cooling a sliding sleeve or collar 94 issupported in the outlet 82 by a rod 96 Which is held in place by a setscrew 98 threaded into the cap 82. In operating the apparatus itpreferable to exhaust the gas in practically a direct path. Toaccomplish this the sleeve 9-.t is drawn into the outlet 32. If,however, the products of" combustion are cooled to a temperature belowthat of the atmosphere, the sleeve 9 1 will be lowered so as to causethe products of combustion to pass down inside the upper part of thebattle and be reheated by the heated gas on the outside of the battleuntil the proper temperature is obtained.

In the combustion of gas containing hydrogen or hydrogen compounds,water vapor is formed which condenses on the inner surface of thecylinder 40 and gives up its heat of condensation to the Water in theWater compartment. The temperature rise of the water passing through theheat interchanger therefore does not indicate the true heat of thecombustion of the gas. but the heat of combustion plus the heat ofcondensation of the Water formed by combustion. To obtain a truemeasurement of the heat of combustion, an amount of heat equivalent tothat given up by the condensing vapor must be subtracted from theresults obtained from the thermometer readings. The amount to besubtracted can be determined by collecting and measuring the condensedvapor and calculating the heat of condensation. In ord r to collect thecondensed vapor a cap 100 is mounted onto the lower end of the heatinsulating jacket or mantel 16. The open ing 81 for the entrance of airfor combustion is formed in the cap 100 by a flange formed around anopening in the center or the cap 100 to form a channel 102 in Which tocollect the water of condensation. The moisture formed in the combustionof the gas condenses on the inner surface of the cylinder 420, runs downthe cylinder and collects in the channel The Water collected in thechannel 102 flows. out through an outlet 10a into a graduate 106 bywhich it may be measured.

The gas tank 2 1- consists of a glass container or bottle having a mouth108 in its upper end and provided with a stopper 110 through whichconnections 112 and 11 1 for the tubes and 26 enter the tank. A tube 116is provided for the admission of gas.

in order to reduce the ga supplied to the calorimeter to standardconditions the pressure and temperature of the gas in the gas tank mustbe determined. A manometer 118 for determining the pressure in the tankis supported on the heat absorber 18 and is in connnunic; "ion With thegas tank 2 1 through a le ible tube 120 and a glass connector 122mounted in the stopper 110. The temperature of the gas in the tank 2 1-may be determined by means 01 a thermometer 26 supported by the stopper110.

lhe amount of gas burned in. the heat absorber 18 during a test isusually very small and the amount of Water collected in the graduate 108from the gas burned during a test will sometimes be too small to beaccurately determined. In this case the quantity of gas burned duringthe test may be determined. By burning a larger measured amount of as inthe heat absorber 18, the amount of moisture collected in the graduate106 during this second burning may be ace rately determined and theamount of the moisture condensed during the time of the test may bethen, calculated. For determin ing the quantity of gas suppliedto theheat absorber 18 during a test, the gas tank 2% is provided with numberof graduations 128 to indicate the volume of gas Withdrawn from thetank.

ll tube 130 extendstrom the bottom of the gas tank to the bottom of theglass connector 11 or the tube 22 so as to conduct the Water enteringthe, tank 8% from the tube 22 to the bottom of the tank Without forminga syphon. An opening 182 is provided in the lower part or" the gas tank24, through which a tube 134- connects tor the outfiowof water.Pinch-cocks 136 are provided on the tubes 22, 26, 116 and 184- torregulating or stopping the How oi gases and water.

The specific details of the calorimeter may be varied without departingfrom the above invention. which is directed primarily toward the meansfor obtaining an instantaneous exchange of heat between the products ofcombustion of the gas being tested and the water serving as anabsorption medium.

lilaving described the preferred form of the invention, what is claimedas new is:

1. A gas calorimeter comprising a gas tank, a straight annular containerhaving cylindrical walls spaced a short distance apart, said containerbeing open at the bottom tor the direct admission of air thereto, anoutlet mounted on the top or said container forming a direct passage ofcombustion gr s from said container to atmosphere, a burner inciosed bythe inner wall or the container, means for connecting said burner withsaid gas tank, a water inlet for said annula container, a conduit forleading water rom said container to said tank and means ior measuringthe rise in temperature of the water passing through said container.

it calorimeter comprising a gas tank, an annular water chamber havingcylindrcal walls spaced a short distance apart, a burner inclosed by theinner wall of said water chamber, means for connecting said burner withsaid gas tank, a water inlet for said annular water chamber, a conduitfor reading water from said water chamber to said tank and a gasdeflector within and spaced a short distance from the inner wall 01 thewater chamber.

3. A gas calorimeter comprising a gas tank, an annular water chamberhaving cylindrical walls spaced a short distance apart, a burnerinolosed by the inner wall or said water chamber, means for connecting sburner with said gas tank, a water inlet i r said annular water chamber,a conduit for leading water from said chamber to said tank, means formeasuring the rise in temperature of the water passing through saidchamber, a cylindrical gas deflector within and spaced a short distancefrom the inner wall 01 the container and open at its upper end, and avertically adjustable cylindrical gas outlet at the top of the innerwall or the condenser and projecting into said gas deflector.

ln a gas caloriineter, a water heating chambercomprising a verticalcylinder, a se ono cylinder within and spaced a short dr ance from saidfirst mentioned cylinder, rings closing the ends oi the space betweenthe cylinders, a water inlet at lie top and a water outlet at the bottomor said condenser and a cylindrical gas deflector within and spaced ashort distance from said inner cylinder.

5. In a calorimeter, a water heating chamber comprising a verticalcylinder, a second cylinder within and spaced a short distance from saidfirst mentioned cylinder, rings closing the ends of the space betweenthe cylinders, a water inlet at the top and a water outlet at the bottomof said chamber and a cylindrical gas deflector having a lower invertedconical end within and spaced from the walls said inner cylinder.

6 in a gas calorimeter, a water heating chamber comprising a verticalcylinder, a second cylinder within and spaced a short listanae from saidfirst mentioned cylinder, rings closing the ends of the space betweenthe cylinders, a water inlet at the top and a u ater outlet at thebottom of said chamber, a cylindrical gas deflector extending within andspaced a short distance from said inner cylinder and a gas burner belowsaid de- Hector.

7, In a calorimeter, a water heating chamber comprising a verticalcylinder, a second cylinder within and spaced a short oistance from saidfirst mentioned cylinder, rings closing the ends of the space betweenthe cylinders, a water inlet at the top and a water outlet at the bottomof said con dcnser and cylindrical gas deflector Within and spaceddistance from said inner a short cylinder, a gas burner below saiddeflector, and means for measuring the rise in temperature of thewaterpassing through said cyl inders.

S. In a gas calorimeter, a water heating chamber comprising a verticalcylinder, 21 second cylinder within and spaced a short distance fromsaid first mentioned cylinder, rings closing the ends of the spacebetween the cylinders, a water inlet at the top and a water outlet atthe bottom of said condenser, a cylindrical deflector within and spaced9,. short distance from said inner cylinder, means for measuring therise in temperature of the water passing through the heating chamber andmeans for feedinn, gas to said burner in a constant ratio to the rate ofpassage of the water 9. In a gas calorimeter, a v u heating chambercomprising a vertital inder, a second cylinder within and spatial ashort distance from said first mentioned cylinder, rings closing theends of the space between the cylinders, a water inlet at the top and awater outlet at the bottom of said condenser, a cylindrical gasdeflector extending within and spaced a short distance from said innercylinder, means for feeding gas to said burner in a constant ratio tothe rate oi passage of the water, and means for controll ng the exit 01"the products of combustion from said inner cylinder.

10. In a gas calorimeter, a water heating chamber comprising a verticalcylinder, a second cylinder Within and spaced a short distance from saidfirst mentioned cylinder, rings closing the ends of the space betweenthe cylinders, a Water inlet at the top and a water outlet at the bottomof said container, a cylindrical gas deflector extending Within andspaced a short distance from said inner cylinder, means for feeding gasto said burner in a constant ratio to the rate of passage of the Water,means for control- 11. r gas calorimeter comprising means for passinliquid in one direction only in athin substantially uniformly flowinglayer, means for burning gas at a rate proportionately to the flow ofthe liquid in said layer, means for passing the products of comhus tionin one direction only as a thin layer in a heat conducting relation tosaid layer of Water-and means for measuring the rise in temperature ofthe liquid due to the ab sorption of heat from the gases of combustion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILBUR G. LAIRD,

